Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R J Blendon.
Voters in the June 2 last-in-the-nation California primary indicated that candidates' character, experience, and leadership ability have become more significant than their stands on such issues as health reform. However, among substantive campaign issues, health care ranked second, behind the economy. That is consistent with previous poll results from New Hampshire, the nation's first primary state.
A larger percentage of Californians than Americans overall lack insurance, and a poll of state residents shows a greater level of concern about health care costs and access. Among the reasons: a recognition that the uninsured face serious barriers to care and a fear among middle-class Californians that insurance and medical care costs could make coverage unaffordable.
The 50-year-old health care experiment conducted in Rochester, New York, has yielded encouraging results. The policies implemented there include coverage by a single payer, community rating, a spending cap, encouraged use of HMOs, and general cooperation among providers, employers, insurers, and the area's one million residents. Surveys of those residents and local employers indicate that they are more satisfied with Rochester's health system than the rest of Americans are with the U.S. system.
With federal action on major health reform set to take place in 1994, a recent survey of 1,200 adults found major gaps in Americans' understanding of what the problems are or how major legislative proposals would address them. While the public is primarily concerned about how health reform will affect them personally, their current lack of knowledge heightens the impact that political advertising, media coverage, and public education campaigns will have.
Are all health plans created equal? A recent survey of 1,000 adults queried Americans about their experiences with managed care, the Medicare program, and traditional fee-for-service medicine. Most Americans said they generally are content with their arrangements, but Medicare patients reported the highest level of satisfaction. Managed care consumers said they are generally pleased with their care, but they reported some problems with their specialist care. Overall most Americans are not looking for a completely new health care system.
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Changing political and economic conditions facing hospitals have cast pale over role of private giving, according to the author. His analysis examines the trends which will impact health giving.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.